Communicate with your audience in the way that works for them…

Adam Parry of Event Tech Live talks to Present owner Kieron Garlic about the future of events, comms and tech. So, what was covered.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, how and where you communicate is just as important as what you communicate. Whether you’re delivering a corporate message, marketing a product, or running an event, meeting your audience on their terms isn’t just good practice. It’s essential.

Why Does It Matter?

People consume content differently. Some scroll endlessly through TikTok or Instagram Reels; others prefer long-form podcasts or detailed blog posts. Some engage best with a quick email summary, while others want an immersive video experience. Add in the need for accessibility; captioning, language options, screen reader compatibility and the picture gets even more complex.

Ignoring these preferences means your message risks being missed, misunderstood, or ignored.

Meet People Where They Are: Platform Matters

The key is to distribute your content on the platforms your audience already uses.

  • TikTok and Instagram Reels for younger, mobile-first audiences craving short, dynamic video clips.
  • LinkedIn for professional conversations and B2B messaging.
  • YouTube and podcasts for in-depth storytelling and thought leadership.
  • Email newsletters for direct, personalized communication.

Each platform brings a different tone, format, and user expectation.

Format Flexibility: Long-Form vs Short-Form

Not everyone wants to spend 30 minutes watching a webinar. Short-form snippets, clips, highlights, soundbites are essential for grabbing attention and driving engagement. Yet, long-form content remains crucial for deeper learning and building trust.

The solution? Produce content with the intention of repurposing it:

  • Create longer sessions or interviews, then break them down into bite-sized clips for social media.
  • Complement videos with blog posts or articles for those who prefer reading.
  • Provide transcripts and summaries so people can scan or listen as they choose.

Accessibility: Personalisation Beyond Convenience

True personalisation embraces accessibility as a fundamental part of communication:

  • Offer captioning and sign language interpretation for deaf or hard of hearing audiences
  • Provide language translations and subtitles for global reach
  • Design content platforms with adjustable font sizes, colour contrast, and screen reader compatibility
  • Allow on-demand access so neurodivergent or differently-abled individuals can engage at their own pace

By embedding these features, you not only comply with legal standards but create a genuinely inclusive experience.

The Payoff: Better Reach, Engagement, and Loyalty

When you communicate on your audience’s preferred platform, in their preferred format, and with accessibility in mind, your content becomes more relevant and engaging. It’s no longer a broadcast; it’s a conversation.

This approach drives:

  • Higher engagement rates – people are more likely to watch, read, and share content that fits their habits.
  • Broader inclusivity – ensuring everyone, regardless of ability, can access your message.
  • Stronger brand loyalty – people trust brands that respect their preferences and needs.

Final Thought

In an age of fragmented attention and diverse audiences, the brands and organisations that thrive will be those that put personalisation and accessibility front and centre.

Your message isn’t just about what you say, it’s about how you make your audience feel, seen and heard, on their terms.

Where and how are you communicating today?

Watch the podcast here – Redefining Engagement: Inclusive Strategies in Event Technology with Kieron Garlic and Adam Parry

Present has been accredited at new London venue.

Present has been accredited as a supplier at 60 Great Queen Street, Covent Garden, London.

Freemasons’ Hall has rebranded as 60 Great Queen Street, unveiling a fresh, contemporary identity that blends history with innovation. This transformation strengthens its connection to its prime Central London location, positioning it as a versatile, high-profile venue for conferences, product launches, luxury weddings, and fashion shows.

A refreshed colour palette—inspired by the venue’s Art Deco heritage—features taupe, rhubarb, and cream, bringing warmth, elegance, and a modern edge to its new look.

This exciting evolution makes 60 Great Queen Street more accessible, relevant, and desirable for today’s event planners. A historic landmark, reimagined for the future.

Present MD Kieron Garlic says “We’re very proud to have been appointed by 60 Great Queen Street.  The rebrand is exciting and we’re looking forward to working on some great events there.  We see 2025 as a year for ‘big’ events, spectacles and memorable experiences.  Live events are about creating ‘moments’ and this is a great space to do that”.

Present is well known as a highly technical video and broadcast agency but of course, it’s roots are in providing audio visual services to incredible event spaces.  We look forward to working more in this space.

 

60 Great Queen Street

 

How do I make my event more accessible?

It’s not only right and fair to make your event inclusive and accessible, but it also increases the value! Quite simply, more people can take part.

Accessibility tools
💚 Induction loops (in-room)
💚Bluetooth for hearing aids
💚BSL / ASL
💚Captions

It seems obvious to say, but the best option is all of the above. That way, people in the audience can chose and even change throughout the day (reducing fatigue). Captions for example are now so popular that 80% of Netflix shows include them. So should we have them on all our events?

And did you know our captioners are often working from home, so there is less travel and environmental impact, as well as a smaller space requirement.

Audio production and AI…

The old truth has always and will always be true (probably) and that is, if you want great audio, get the microphone as close to the source as possible. Not only that, but always record in a space that has as little noise as possible. In this particularly post, I’m talking about recording the voice in particular.

Noise is a distraction, it’s annoying. And it actually makes speech less intelligible.

Over the last few years, especially since lockdown we’ve seen the rise in automated audio processing in platforms like Teams, Zoom and Webex and they all work a little differently.

First, lets talk about compression. This is the process whereby the loudest audio is made quieter. That means that all ‘speech’ is similar in level, there is less dynamic range. If that audio is then normalised, that is that it’s increased to the ‘standard’ level, then all speech is similar in volume and as loud as all over speech.

But what happens if there isn’t only speech in the audio, what happens if there is noise? If the level of the speech is increased, then so is the noise, and we end up with noisey audio.

Introducing, the noise gate. This kind of does what it says on the tin. The noise gate is set to the threshold so that noise that is quieter than the threshold is muted, and voice that is louder is unmuted.

Problem solved….

But how do we know what the threshold should be. Automated systems will look for a constant level, the ‘noise floor’ and will set the threshold around there. Now… we play in music which is so heavily compressed that the platform thinks it’s noise (it often is). And now the processor mutes EVERYTHING.

Where are we going with this? AI.

New AI technology actually listens to the audio, detects the voices. More than that, it listens to the words so it knows what is speech and what isn’t. That way, it can actually eliminate real noise but keep speech, even where they’re at a similar level. In fact, it can then isolate the speech and manipulate it to make it even more intelligible.

We could take it one step further and change the voice, from male to female or vice versa for example. But lets leave that one for another post…

Exploring the World of Microphones

In the realm of audio technology, microphones play a pivotal role in capturing, transmitting, and amplifying sound. It’s a huge and diverse field, with nuanced differences and very specific applications. So let’s go over what we use, and why we use it.

Lapel microphones, also known as lavalier microphones, are designed to be clipped onto clothing, making them inconspicuous and perfect for situations where visibility and mobility matters. Typically an Omnidirectional Condenser, they are sensitive, detailed and consistent. Perfect for presentations and interviews, our Sennheiser Wireless Lapel mics are a permanent feature in our productions.

Handheld microphones are perhaps the most recognizable type of microphone. Their ergonomic and familiar design allows speakers, presenters, and performers to have control over their audio as they move around the stage or set. Typically a Hyper-Cardioid Dynamic microphone, they provide a very focused and powerful sound, minimising bleed from the environment and providing a clear signal on the busiest of stages. Our Sennheiser Handheld microphones are also wireless, providing maximum mobility and comfort; meaning they’re also an extremely popular and useful tool.

Lectern microphones are designed for use on podiums or lecterns, offering a convenient solution for speakers addressing an audience. These microphones are engineered to minimize feedback and capture the speaker’s voice clearly, even when they’re positioned a bit further away from the microphone. They provide a stable and consistent solution for talks and conferences with multiple speakers addressing the audience in turn, and keeping the speaker physically free from any microphones can benefit their presentation.

Finally, Boundary microphones, or “boundary mics,” use the principle of phase cancellation to capture sound waves reflected off surfaces, resulting in a natural and ambient audio capture. These microphones are often placed on large surfaces like conference tables or theatre stages, making them ideal for recording meetings, conferences and theatrical performances. They’re a useful tool due to the ease of use and minimal technical footprint, making them a great choice for more simple setups where a wide area needs to be covered effectively.

The world of microphones is diverse and adaptable, catering to a wide range of commercial applications. Whether you’re capturing the ambiance of a conference, recording a podcast, addressing a large audience, or amplifying a musical performance, there’s a microphone type that’s perfectly suited for the task.